‘Grand Slam at stake…’
YouTube credit: mountnugent1949
And his drop-goals didn’t end there.
No wonder Argentina hated him. His late drop goal in 2004 was another moment when the Pumas came tantalisingly close to making an impact on the big stage, but ROG came away from Lansdowne with a 21-19 win thanks to his five penalties and two drops goals.
©INPHO/ Tom Honan
Converting in the home of the world champions, 2004.
If you’ve spare time today, then you may want to watch this entire clip of Ireland’s unlikely win on (what was supposed to be) the World Champions’ glorious homecoming to Twickenham.
This conversion from Girvan Dempsey’s second half try was the kind of kick most people will picture when remembering how great O’Gara was.
YouTube credit: Conor Ryan
Marauding forward in Edinburgh, 2007.
At his peak, he almost made a habit of scoring all of Ireland’s points in a tight game. This block-down in Murrayfield paved the way for a maximum score to which he would add four penalties in a 18-19 win.
YouTube credit: docathail
Beating Australia at the World Cup.
A 50th minute replacement, O’Gara played out the half hour of Ireland’s finest ever World Cup display, adding two penalties to put the result beyond the side who were many people’s favourite to win another Webb Ellis.
YouTube credit: EllliotJack1
The first try in Croke Park, 2007.
Another game where O’Gara supplied all the Irish points. This landmark score under the Hogan Stand put Eddie O’Sullivan’s men in the driving seat against France. The Munster 10 would add a late penalty to give Ireland a 17-13 lead. The only problem was that it wasn’t late enough as Les Bleus caused all manner of confusion off the restart, forcing a turnover and a try for Vincent Clerc.
YouTube credit: EllliotJack4
Beating the Boks
ROG 17 – 12 South Africa. The boy was untouchable on days like this.
Saving our bacon again in Ravenhill
Okay, so maybe he didn’t actually score this legally. But nobody else was finding that post-80th minute gap to avoid an embarrassing home defeat to Italy. Though an even more embarrassing World Cup would be on the way.
YouTube credit: docathail
Finding space to win a Triple Crown in 2006…
YouTube credit: Conor Ryan
… and set up a Grand Slam in 2009.
YouTube credit: Conor Ryan
Thanks for everything, ROG.
